The Hex Dimensionhttp://hexdimension.com
We don't care how big of a geek you areSat, 30 Jul 2016 11:10:38 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.9[Interview] The Evehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/r7Wl_QtEpaw/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/interview-the-eve/#respondTue, 23 Jun 2015 10:43:23 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10154We talk with the director and the writer for recent horror flick, The Eve and get to the bottom of their strange goings-on.

]]>We recently interviewed the director (Ritchie Filippi) and the scriptwriter (Evan Bass) for The Eve , a horror film about a group of friends reconnecting on a remote island on New Years Eve – until a mysterious presence ruins the celebrations.

Ritchie – I believe this is your first feature film. How difficult was it to make the leap to feature work?

RITCHIE: This is my first feature film as a director, but I’ve worked in various roles on a ton of features of all budget ranges. The hardest part of making the switch from production managing to directing was letting go of the logistics and coordinating for the shoot and focusing on just the creative. It is not easy to disconnect, but it really felt great once I was able to.

Evan – How difficult was it to create an original horror idea without retreading territory that other films have done already?

EVAN: An amazing, and very true, question. It is difficult. Even with the initial concept going in a different direction — I didn’t want to go cabin in the woods in the middle of summer and bikini-clad women as the main feature, we’ve all seen that a thousand times. I started with the idea of a remote island in the middle of winter and built around that.

That said, The Eve we filmed was the third full script I wrote around the concept. The first one had issues fully being realized as a script, it had a great initial concept but then sort of veered too much into the gore-porn genre style of having to be a complete bloodbath. I respect that as a genre, but I favor the psychological aspects to horror-thrillers — I can watch gore on Grey’s Anatomy and at super high production value.

The second script, even though I really liked it, one of the producers, Angel Acevedo, pointed me to a little known horror film from 10 years ago that had a very similar concept. I had never seen or even heard of it, but we wanted something not done before, so that idea was scrapped/re-worked and we finally landed on what we filmed. Even then, since The Eve is an indie film in the fullness of what that means for guerrilla-style filmmakers, we wanted the production value to be far above what was expected so we had to modify the script to make sure we could keep it at the level we were holding ourselves to. It was a really interesting journey, especially since we wanted to be different, and yet, include subtle nods and homages to classic horror films within the movie.

Evan – Is there always a fear that a director won’t envision your script as you wanted it?

EVAN: Oh, never. Next question. Hehehe, just kidding, there is ALWAYS that fear. That is why before we began working with Ritchie Filippi, we had a conference call — Angel, Ritchie, and myself — and chatted about the film and how Ritchie envisioned it, along with his film motivations. Filmmaking encapsulates the idea that “It takes a village” so well, because every step of the way involves an individual applying his or her specific skill to one piece of the film, that without them we could never end up with the final completed product.

Are both of you focused on the slasher genre or are you venturing onto other things for your next film?

EVAN: I’m ADD with my filmmaking. I produce comedy web series and sketches, and am currently in pre-production on a dramatic narrative short focusing on Alzheimer’s disease. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got 2-3 horror feature pitches ready to go, if that is needed, and a few completed feature scripts of different genres sitting on the shelf currently waiting for the right time.

RITCHIE: The Eve is more of a thriller than a slasher. We play with some of the slasher conventions, but I wouldn’t really classify it as a slasher. It is more of a slow burn thriller. Having said that, I love slasher movies and would be excited to direct a slasher feature. Horror and crime/noir have always been my favorite genres and I love blending them together. I’m throwing around ideas for my sophomore feature, but it is still a couple years away.

Ritchie – Previously you’ve worked on some high profile films like Iron Man, Die Hard 4.0 and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. How much did those train you for working on your own film?

RITCHIE: Working on blockbuster movies reminds you why you got into the business. Every aspect of them- from the a-list talent to the grandiose sets- is larger than life. It is impossible to work on these films and not feel inspired to think larger and to have that drive to create.

Evan – Were there any particular challenges that you faced in writing a script for a full feature?

EVAN: The biggest challenges I ran into were modifying the script before, or even during, filming so that we maintained the high level of production value we set forth from the beginning while battling all that comes with filming on a budget (no matter the budget you always end up with some turns you never expected) and also the insanity of filming on a desolate island in the middle of winter.

We filmed on location in Martha’s Vineyard in the first weeks of January and when we arrived we had one previously scouted location that was completely under water, and also had to cut a number of filming days short because of the weather conditions.

Horror films are sometimes known for their “B” movie style small budgets. Was this an issue for both of you, or were you able to shoot the film fairly comfortably?

EVAN: Shoot the film fairly comfortably? I don’t think any film is every shot comfortably, not any indie film, at least. One thing we had set forth from the start Ritchie, Angel, the DP Brian C. Harnick, and I was that we wanted the film to look good. We didn’t want that “B” movie look to it.

There is definitely some “B” movie humor thrown into the film as a nod, but we wanted a cinematic look the whole way through. We wanted people to be pulled in to the beauty of the Vineyard in the winter and also use the island as a character. One of my favorite looks is a woods sequence that just looks so crisp and so- I don’t know how to describe it. I guess, watch the film and let us know!

RITCHIE: The low budget was a challenge. We all would have loved to have extra shooting days and more help on set, but you work with what is available to you. It helps you get more creative with how you approach a particular scene or sequence and can help inspire new ideas.

Who would you say is the biggest influence on the film? (apart from yourselves)

EVAN: This may vary between us, but I’d say Alfred Hitchcock. We referenced his style a lot, from Bernard Herrmann’s scores to the play of light and dark within Hitchcock’s films. We have nods to Jaws, and The Shining, as well as Psycho, and others within the film, and I feel like those movies, the directors of those, subtly influenced the approach at some level as well.

RITCHIE: Definitely Hitchcock. That’s how The Eve was originally pitched to me and is one of the things that was intriguing to me about the movie that Evan wanted to create. We don’t mimic or copy the master of suspense, but hopefully people can feel his influence on the screen.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/interview-the-eve/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/interview-the-eve/Hex Comic Roundup: Revelationshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/R8qWLe-szT4/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-revelations/#commentsMon, 22 Jun 2015 18:27:01 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10139We take a look at some of the biggest comic news from the last few weeks. This week we have Spider-man, 2000AD, Superman, Drive and Voltron

]]>Hello and welcome to this week’s comic roundup. This time we have another 2000AD preview and news from Marvel and IDW. We also have news about a return of one my favourite robots. So grab a beverage and settle in…

2000AD

Prog 1936

Prog 1936 flies onto UK shelves this week. Its part 3 of the new Dredd case, Blood of Emeralds. Dredd and Judge Royce have travelled to the Emerald Isle for answers. However there are things at the Emerald Isle that seem to want to remain hidden – along with a different approach to the law!

Absalom continues to chase down the demon hunter. With clues pointing towards a demolished children’s home and the first signs of a holy war. Can Absalom make some headway?

It’s Slaine vs Gort in this week’s episode. With Gort being transformed into the Primordial! It’s the conclusion of book two and a fight to the end…

The new Outlier story continues with an epic battle as the focus switches to the Hurde. Leaving us with more questions and a large battlefield!

It’s part three of Helium as the Constable tries to get help before the enemy behind the poison belt heads to their shores. Alas is it too late and why does the Mayor seem to hate her so.

The publisher very kindly sent us a preview copy.

Marvel

Spider-Man

News has appeared over the last 48 hours from the Marvel offices. A new series by Brian Bendis and Sara Pichelli. Taking place after the secret wars, we now have an official confirmation that there will be a Spider-Man book.

To be fair, we all knew that this would be the case. However there is a twist. For the star of the book is not Peter Parker! Yes you read that right, Peter Parker will not be starring in the Spider-Man series. Instead we have Miles Morales!

You all should know how much I like this character and I’m really pleased to see him returning post Secret Wars. Now the big question is…..what does this mean for Mr Parker?

Last week, I reported on the possibility of Jeff Lemire being the new head writer on the X-Men books. Now there are rumours circulating that one of the artist’s joining the new team, will be none other than Ken Lashley!

All of these rumours are giving me hope that perhaps unlike the Fantastic Four – my favourite mutants won’t be left out to dry. What do you think?

For the first time ever, Marvel comics are coming to the Kindle store. Under a new expanded distribution deal, which also sees more than 12,000 single issue digital comic books available for the first time on Kindle.

This deal will not affect the current deal with Comixology or Marvel’s existing digital platforms. This is a great step towards digital distribution – one that I’m sure will see new fans coming on board.

DC

Superman

This week saw a new story begin for the last son of Krypton. Written by Gene Luen and artist John Romita JR – complete with a new edge to his personality, a new “roguishness” to help him as he deals with his secret identity being revealed.

This new story will be part of the “Truth” stories, which are tying all of the Superman books together. Telling us the story behind Lois’s decision to write that damn article in the first place.

It’s an interesting time for the man of steel at present. With some interesting twists and turns.

IDW

Drive

Good news for fans of the film Drive, this week. As IDW announced a new four issue limited series based on the film. The comic will be adapted from the original novel, written by James Sallis.

The new comic adaptation will hit stores this August and is being helmed by Michael Benedetto and artist Antonio Fuso. This is sounding like a rather ace project – it will be interesting to see how well it does in comic form.

Dynamite

Voltron

Dynamite have announced the return of one of the biggest 80’s combination toys, Returning to comics once more – this September is none other than the mighty Voltron! The team behind the new Voltron will be Cullen Bunn and Blacky Shepherd.

The new series will be available from September and is promising a darker, grittier take on the hero. Complete with a new evil to fight – this could be a real winner.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-revelations/feed/1http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-revelations/[Podcast] Nerds Assemble 140: Actually it’s about scientific accuracy in filmshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/jNxskuq4SpU/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-140-actually-its-about-scientific-accuracy-in-films/#respondWed, 17 Jun 2015 18:23:24 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10133We rant about films that are otherwise scientifically sound, but with one very major problem.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-140-actually-its-about-scientific-accuracy-in-films/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-140-actually-its-about-scientific-accuracy-in-films/Hex Comic Roundup: Westerns & Spacehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/fWhiSjjxwrU/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-westerns-space/#respondSun, 14 Jun 2015 17:50:40 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10117We take a look at some of the biggest stories from the comic world. This week we have Captain Marvel, 2000AD, X-men, Copperhead and Bloodstrike

]]>It’s Sunday, which can only mean one thing. It’s time for us to once more look back into the past week and pick out the more exciting news in the comic book world. This week more news from Marvel, a new series that is getting a lot of praise and our usual preview of the latest 2000AD. So grab a biscuit and a brew. As this week’s Comic Roundup, gets underway…

2000AD

Prog 1935

Prog 1935 hits UK shelves this week. Continuing the adventures of Judge Dredd and friends.The issue kicks off with the next chapter in the current Judge Dredd story – Blood Of Emeralds. Dredd has one of the most wanted hitmen in custody. Yet why was he sent after a Judge and who is this guy, really? The mystery deepens in this issue.

Absalom continues with part two of Under A False Flag. Abaslom begins to look into the clues left at t crime scene. Travelling back to London to get some info. What’s a children’s home in Sussex got to do with the murders? More questions to answer with only a handful of answers.

It’s time for Slaine to face Gort in this weeks chapter of Primordial. Will Slaine be able to handle Gort now he has been warped by Lord Weird and the Cyph. This chapter brings us ever closer to the dramatic conclusion.

Outlier is back in a new story entitled Dark Symmetries. Carcer is back, with more questions regarding the Hurde. Will he help his superiors and what do the Hurde want with him. The intrigue begins this issue.

Helium Part 2 kicks off with a little acclimatising. The stranger begins to talk about his home and why he fled. Has be bought more trouble with him – or is he as innocent as he protests.

The publisher very kindly sent us a preview copy.

Marvel

Captain Marvel

As Secret Wars continues to take hold in the Marvel Universe, news keeps on arriving about how the Universe will be forever changed after the event. We know that not all of the characters will make it through and some will be forever changed.

One character though, I did not really anticipate much change too was Captain Marvel – aka Carol Danvers. I had seen that she was getting her own group of female air pilot to command – the Carol Corps. However this is apparently not the only change occurring – a bigger more substantial change is set to happen. Or so the rumours would have us believe. Nothing else has been spoken about – leaving us all to guess what this change could potentially be!

More gossip has appeared on the old Web. If true this could be a real turning point for one of Marvel’s the biggest group of books. Ever since Secret Wars was announced there have been rumours that Marvel would use this reboot to dismiss the X-Men. Taking them out of the limelight and shifting focus onto the Inhumans.

However last week, rumours began circulating – hinting that none other than Jeff Lemire could be the new lead writer on the X-Men books. This to me if true – would be awesome. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this can only be true.

Image

BloodStrike

This week saw Image pushing their new BloodStrike series. With #1 hitting stores on July 8th, written by Rob Liefeld this is promising to be some of his best work yet. Add to this a new recruit for the BloodStrike team – this is proving to be very tempting!

The description released, teases this new recruit has a hidden identity – but arrives from the historical Extreme Universe. He struggles on a covert mission and faces a mysterious foe known as Tragedy Ann.

This week has also seen my interest piqued by a new series from Image. Currently on #8 the new series is being described as a cross between Firefly and Saga! Caught your interest? It did mine.

Written by Jay Faerber and with art by Scott Godlweski’s Copperhead is a Sci-Fi western. If you need to catch up a collected edition entitled Vol. 1: A new Sheriff In Town is now available. The story follows Clara Bronson a single mother who also happens to be the new Sheriff on an alien planet.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-westerns-space/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-westerns-space/[Podcast] Nerds Assemble 139: For the fans!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/uDvB6r6rb3o/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-139-for-the-fans/#respondWed, 10 Jun 2015 17:04:30 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10113Fandoms are doing it for themselves! This weeks main discussion is on the depths of fans and the things they love.

]]>The Nerds are back sans a Cookie and on the table for discussion is all about fan culture – the good, the bad and the nigh-on incomprehensible. Also on the agenda; that reveal of Fallout 4, Constantine’s cancellation, The Wicked + The Divine coming to TV and Uwe Boll.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-139-for-the-fans/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-139-for-the-fans/[Trailer Park] Toil and Troublehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/MY6t686kRxs/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/trailer-park-toil-and-trouble/#respondMon, 08 Jun 2015 16:19:42 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10086Matt Hurd analyses the latest film trailers. From A for Apatosaurus to Z for Zachariah.

Fittingly, this looks big . The emphasis is very much on the scale of this mountain, and the awe that it instils. And it works – watching stormclouds rolling in beneath us makes everything feel enormous, and makes the humans feel tiny. We get a feel for a few of those characters, and their camaraderie seems strong, but Everest itself is definitely the star.

The story being told is a true one, so it’s pure chance that this disaster happened on the return trip, but that really helps the story for me. It’s not a fight to get to the top – to conquer the elements – it’s just a fight to survive them. It’s simple, but in this case that feels like a good thing. Barring the choice to have flashing text in the middle of the screen, everything works.

But the main draw is the action. The set-pieces have an urgency and immediacy to them that really grabs you. If they keep that tension up the whole way through, this could be a visceral experience in the same vein as Gravity . Only with more characters and, y’know, on the ground.

Z for Zachariah

Being a post-apocalyptic drama, I’m fairly certain laughter isn’t the reaction this trailer is after. But I couldn’t help it – it’s such an unfortunate time to release this. It opens with long slow shots of bombed out homes which, in this particular week, is an image already associated with something else. Then a dog turns up and makes the whole thing even more similar – this looks like the Fallout 4 trailer , and that cracks me up.

That, though, is where the similarities end. Rather than the gang-warfare and mutant monsters of other post-apocalypses, this is a quiet little human drama of only three people. There is some kind of mystery about why this area is unharmed – but even that only seems a setup for these three to meet, rather than a big part of the plot.

I certainly hope that’s the case, anyway, because the dramatic stuff here is really strong, and it’d be a shame if it was overshadowed by some larger save-the-world story. Just seeing these three actors clash, over science and religion and each other, has the potential to be much more meaningful and much more interesting.

Macbeth

There’s something off about this one.

It looks stunning, in a visual sense. There are some incredible vistas and battles, and the costumes and sets are just awesome, but it’s the use of colour that really stands out. The yellow of the flames and the blue of the fog and the deep contrast between the two – it’s very very pretty. The actors seem to be killing it too, bringing gravitas to the words while also feeling naturalistic (as all good Shakespeare performances should). Michael Fassbender’s “scorpions” line is the absolute best moment of any trailer the week.

And yet… something’s not quite right. I think it’s the constant closeups of actors’ faces, which is something we’ve seen before in other films of stage-plays ( Les Misérables comes to mind). It feels as though the film is so desperate to show off the capital-letter ACTING, because this is serious stagecraft darling, that it forgets how to be a film. In fact the whole thing feels quite stagey – there’s a lot of groups of people standing in lines in this trailer, as though facing the theatre audience.

I’m not sure if this is actually a problem, strictly speaking. It’s a movie of a play, so it makes sense that it would resemble a play, and it looks to be a very impressive version of that play too. I’m just not feeling it.

The Good Dinosaur

At some point I’m sure I must have known there were two Pixar films coming out this year. Yet somewhere in the run-up to next month’s Inside Out (which looks amazing, by the way) it seems to have slipped my mind, because I absolutely was not expecting this. It’s like Christmas came early!

The trailer itself is a Pixar teaser in the grand tradition of Pixar teasers, giving us an idea what to expect but showing us very little from the actual movie. The little we are shown, however, is great. Some parts (like the pair of roaring predators) look strangely flat, but other parts (like the sunset stampede) look absolutely gorgeous. The exaggerated designs are wonderful too – I particularly love the underbite on the t-rex.

But the best part is the animation. The weird lolloping run of the main dino (an Apatosaurus, apparently) conveys so much character and personality all on its own. Imagine how great it’ll be when we actually see him talking!

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation

Is it even possible to make a spy film these days that isn’t about the heroes going rogue? Skyfall did it, Winter Soldier did it, and out of four Mission: Impossibles the only one that didn’t do it was the horrible second film.

Now here we are a fifth time, and Tom Cruise’s superspy is going rogue once again. Snark aside, though, the guy definitely does it with style! The whole thing is slick and stylish, and the stunts are amazing. As you’ve probably heard, that genuinely is Cruise hanging off a real plane at the end.

It’s not just him, though. This series has always been about teams, and this looks a very strong one. Simon Pegg is always fun in these movies, Jeremy Renner (the weakest link in the last one) looks more comfortable and more involved this time, and oh my gods Ving Rhames is back. All of them look to be having a great time and, despite the incredibly overplayed plot, it looks like we will too.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/trailer-park-toil-and-trouble/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/trailer-park-toil-and-trouble/Hex Comic Roundup – Returns & New #1’shttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/Qa6vecnVzRU/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-returns-new-1s/#respondSun, 07 Jun 2015 18:54:15 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10089We take a look at some of the biggest news in comic stories from the last few weeks. This week we have Iron Man, Wolverine, 2000AD, and Nowhere Men

]]>Hello and welcome to another week of comic news. This week we have news on the all new look Marvel, another preview of 2000AD and news from Image plus Boom Studios! Lets get started!

2000AD

Prog 1934

This week see’s Prog 1934 hitting UK shelves. With a host of new stories to dive into this issue is looking mighty strong! There’s a new case for Dredd to investigate this week. Why is there a hitman after a Judge – what does a delivery droid have to do with it. The questions keep on coming in this weeks episode.

Real copper Absalom is back this week in an all new story. There’s a demon hunter on the loose, making a housing estate their own personal hunting ground. Complete with a bit of magic and ancient daggers. What has Absalom got himself into this time.

This week’s issue concludes with another installment in the latest adventure of Slaine. Lord Weird’s plans are taking form. Can Slaine finally let his greive go? What has the prisoner Zana got to with anything? It’s another brutal chapter.

The publisher very kindly sent us a preview copy.

Marvel

New Look Marvel

So this week saw Marvel unveil their all new look. Announcing a whole raft of characters that will get their own books after Secret Wars. With them all beginning from #1! We had a couple of images giving us a glimpse of the returning characters and it’s looking rather different.

According to Marvel this new beginning will mark the next 50 – 75 years for the publisher. In the images we can see the Vision, Mile Morales, Spider Gwen and Ben Grimm complete in a Guardians of the Galaxy uniform!

We’ve also been promised a brand new version of the Hulk – one we have never seen before. Excited yet? I know, I am…

Since the death of Wolverine, we have been wondering when the best there is – will be brought back into the pages of Marvel. Many have speculated we would see his return after Secret Wars. Now we have confirmation that Wolverine will return – yet not as we were expecting.

Marvel confirmed last week that a new hero will wear the mask of Wolverine. A figure that has been a part of Logan’s life for many year. To me after reading the news, it seemed to be rather fitting. You see the new Wolverine will be none other than X-23!

Logan will be returning however. In another little twist – one that I mentioned the other week as a possibility has now been confirmed! Old Man Logan will survive the Secret Wars and be a part of the new Marvel Universe!

That was just the tip of the iceberg, for Marvel had even more to say regarding the new titles. Including a whole new look for Iron Man. Iron Man will get a new #1 with a new series being created by none other than – Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by David Marquez.

With the new stories, there will be new armour, a new girlfriend and even new enemies t fight. This is going to be so cool…

Boom Studios!

Boom announced that critically acclaimed mini series, Black Market will be collected into one book and published this August. A dark story from the mind of Frank J Barbiere, writer of Five Ghosts.

The story centers around Ray Willis, a disgraced medical examiner who has found himself working in a funeral parlour – to make ends meet. A scientific genius – with his talents being wasted. That is until his brother appears. Offering him the chance to cure cancer and all disease!

There’s just one catch. Elements of the cure only exist in the DNA of super heroes. That’s one hell of a catch – don’t you think?

Image

Nowhere Men

Back in 2012 Image released a new series. A series which garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for four Eisner Awards. The series saw us introduced to a new Universe. One where Scientists outranked pop stars and actors in the celebrity lists. I am of course talking about the one and only Nowhere Men.

Now after two years, it looks like Nowhere Men is returning for a second series. The new series is expected to be released this fall – and I for one can not wait.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-returns-new-1s/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/hex-comic-roundup-returns-new-1s/[Analysis] DOTA 2 update 6.84: The new Deathball Metahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/spwv9RJoips/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/analysis-dota-2-update-6-84-the-new-deathball-meta/#respondThu, 04 Jun 2015 10:33:40 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10076With a new update comes a brand new meta, and a change to how we play the game. So how will the update effect you and your game?

]]>The Compendium has been released for the internationals, and that means its time for a big hard core DOTA 2 update. Just in time to spice up the tournament. With a new update comes a brand new meta, and a change to how we play the game. So how will the update effect you and your game?

Now if we listen to the theory-craft that’s been going on in forums, this meta should be magictastic.

Nearly every single hero got buffed in the update, whether it’s from rescaled damage, shorter cool downs, altered abilities. Only a few heroes that were seen as over powered anyway got debuffed such as Troll Warlord and Juggernaut.

Big Changes

Gold has been changed so farming is harder, last hits matter all the more, but you get a lot more gold for assists. So the gold gain has been made to favour the supports rather than the carry’s. The supports of the game have been buffed the most this patch, with big winners being Crystal Maiden, Keeper of the Light, Pugna and Oracle. With the grand champion prize in incredible and possibly broken over buff going to Techies. If Techies doesn’t make a big show in this years internationals it’ll be a surprise considering how ridiculous he has been made in the last two patches.

Unfortunately with winners we also have losers, Winter Wyvern the newest hero from last years big update, and latest hero to be promoted to captains mode has been given a major debuff to the point we probably wont see her played this year unless they change Winter’s Curse again. The 70% damage reduction on those attacking the target unfortunately removes the majority of her synergy with other heroes, not to mention synergy with her own abilities.

Aghanim’s Scepter for all!

Supports weren’t the only ones to receive shiny goodness though, a good chunk of the carries benefited as well. Morphling, Centaur Warrunner, Naga Siren, Tusk, Wraith King, Lone Druid, Lifestealer, Legion Commander, and Natures Prophet were all given beautifully shiny new Aghanim’s Scepter upgrades, with Morphlings being the best and most promoting of “support Morphling” a build which makes half the DOTA 2 community cry due to how ridiculous a four second stun is in the game. Weaver also received a Aghanim’s Scepter upgrade that has made the possibility of building a support Weaver a thing, though why anyone would ever in their right mind want to make one of those is beyond everyone in the entire community. Let us of course not forget the most amazing Aghs addition, Alchemist’s ability to consume his Aghs to give people their upgrade for free and as an aura, effectively making seven slotted heroes a thing. Eight if you count the new Moon Shard, but we’ll get to items in a minute.

Bounty Hunter is the carry that has benefited the most from buffs to his character. More damage, more intelligence gain, upgrade to track and increased bounce range on his shuriken is all quite nice, the little debuffs early game levels it out nicely. With honourable mentions going to Tinker with a altered Aghs upgrade which makes his lazor bounce, making him a horrible team wiping nightmare.

Shiny broken Items!

Then we have new items, it’s been a long while since DOTA 2 received new items, we had Crimson Guard from last year which was an okay item, this year we have a large selection of potentially broken shiny additions. With the biggest and the shiniest being the Octarine Core, a tribute item to Sir Terry Pratchett, and not one you ever want to see equipped on your enemy. 25% ability cool down, 25% life steal on spells, enough mana and health regeneration to throw a bloodstone out the window. Oh yes please sign me up.

Then we have Lotus Orb, it’s the new Blade Mail that only sends back targeted spells, and their effects. Throw your Black King Bar out the window, we have a brand new deterrent for spell targeting. If heroes like Lion, Vengeful Spirit, Shadow Shaman and Sven really tick you off with their targeted disables, then this is the item for you.

And of course, everyone’s new favourite consumable, the mango! 1HP regeneration, and the ability to eat it for extra instant mana. It’s pretty sweet, and useful throughout the game. People rubbed it off as a useless item before patch, but you’d be amazed how great that regeneration is early game, and it is instant mana mid game for that ult you need to get off to win the team fight.

The other new items are fairly amazing as well and most of the old items have been reworked. The most important rework being the change to wards, with observers being purchasable one at a time, with shorter cool-down in the shop, along with stacking with sentries. Which is something that will make every support cheer in joy as one of their inventory slots get freed up.

The Meta

Now, to answer the big question. How will this effect my game? Theory-craft is great and all, but it means nothing on the playing field. Now I only play pub games, rather than ranked, so I don’t know what skill bracket I’m in, but you’d think I was playing at 4000 MMR with the team compositions and play styles I have been seeing since this update emerged. Tank is the new vogue, forget magic.

Over twenty games, and not a single one that doesn’t contain at least two strength heroes, sometimes three. They’re calling this “deathball meta”, meaning heroes that can push early and hard are in, making strength heroes a better pick then your standard carry hero. After all, a carry needs the 30 minute mark to become good, while your tank can wipe their faces into mush and take the barracks in the same time. Heroes like Undying have seen a sharp rise in play and win rate. You are seeing the re-emergence of Magnus, Centaur Warrunner, Earth Shaker and Lycan in pubs. Heroes that were ignored last meta are back and they are terrifying. Now having a well built team is more important than ever. Having a push hero, two strength and two support is the ideal build until the meta stabilises. Simply to stop the deathball rolling.

My personal favourite hero at the moment is Chaos Knight, being a strength hero who is also a carry. Who is good at bullying early game, and once farmed can destroy an entire team. With a good support at my side like Lion and Crystal Maiden, a lane pusher/ nuker such as Death Prophet and good hard carry such as Faceless Void or preferably something tankier like Sven. There you have a nice tanky pushing team, with a horrible amount of disables, a decent amount of damage, and the ability to split push if need be. Perfect for this Deathball meta.

]]>This week’s podcast is all about Blade Runner. Our crew watched the final cut of Blade Runner (that’s the one Scott was finally happy with – note, not the director’s cut). So what was discussed? The setting of the film. The comments on technology as a whole. Is Deckard a replicant? and more.

]]>http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-138-blade-runner/feed/0http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/podcast-nerds-assemble-138-blade-runner/[Trailer Park] Awakeningshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hexdimension/~3/c5HgZoM4uKk/
http://hexdimension.com/2015/06/trailer-park-awakenings/#respondMon, 01 Jun 2015 17:43:59 +0000http://hexdimension.com/?p=10043Matt Hurd analyses the latest film trailers. From Point Break to The Diary of a Teenage Girl.

]]> Hello again! It’s not been a particularly big week for trailers, but the few we have seen have been pretty strong. There’s life-lessons abound in our selection below, as children become adults and stoners become badasses and Johnny Depp becomes a good actor again. Welcome to The Trailer Park .

Point Break

This week’s biggest trailer is also its worst. There’s just so much wrong with this, and it feels like no-one’s putting in any effort. The visuals are drab and grey, the writing is stunted and unnatural, the characters are uninteresting and even the actors playing them seem bored (although one does appear to be the long-lost fourth Hemsworth brother). Somehow even the crimes themselves sound dull – they’re disrupting the international financial markets? Oh noes!

Just about the only thing this trailer has going for it is the emphasis on extreme sports. It’s got climbing and surfing and motocross and even squirrel-suits. So it’s a shame that it totally fails to make any of them look enjoyable. It’s so determined to be serious and dramatic that it completely forgets this stuff is supposed to be fun. These criminals are meant to be living a thrill-seeking party lifestyle – yet this never once feels thrilling or like a party.

Black Mass

Have you noticed how every single true-life crime drama always claims that their particular criminal is the most dangerous and notorious in history? Black Mass is no different – it’s about the most feared and violent gangster ever which, on this occasion, is Johnny Depp’s James “Whitey” Bulger.

I’ve never heard of Bulger, but that doesn’t matter. What does matter is that this character is the first in a long time where Depp’s performance makes me sit up and pay attention, rather than just groaning at his silly costume du jour. He’s absolutely electric – surprisingly warm and amiable but also deeply unsettling. You can always sense that, beneath the surface, this man is intensely dangerous.

While we do see that danger on display here – there’s violence and murder and what looks like torture – it’s the other parts that work best. Seeing Bulger eating with his family, or stopped by an old lady in the street, are such great moments, and offer such great contrast to the usual mob shenanigans. It’s this rift between his two lives, and the film’s two tones, that interests me most – I want to see how Black Mass reconciles them.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl

What I really love about this trailer is how positive and optimistic it seems. Coming-of-age stories can so often devolve into darkness and misery, with the characters’ lives spiraling out of control, that to see the young Minnie Goets remain happy throughout this trailer seems almost novel.

Not that The Diary of a Teenage Girl doesn’t still threaten to go in that direction. There’s a tearful-looking hug at the end of this, and a scream in the middle, which suggest it’s not all plain sailing. In fact, the guy with the moustache is apparently her mother’s boyfriend, so you can see how this could all go very pear-shaped. But as far as the trailer itself is concerned, it’s nice to see a tale of sexual awakening treated in such an upbeat way.

Also nice is the strong period feel of the film – not so much the seventies sets and props, but the way soft focus and colour-grading are used to resemble actual footage from the time, echoing Minnie’s cassette tapes. Less nice, maybe, are the animated sections which presumably represent her imagination – they’re taken from the original illustrated novel, apparently, but I’m not sure how much they actually add here. Other than that, though, this trailer and it’s joyful tone have easily won me over.

American Ultra (NSFW)

Most sites reporting on this trailer – which sees Jesse Eisenberg playing some kind of superspy sleeper-agent – seem to be making the comparison to the Bourne trilogy, which is definitely fair. But I’m reminded far more of the TV series Chuck – which is great, because I really like Chuck . And, like that show, this looks crazy and funny and more than a little surreal.

One of the strongest aspects is probably the casting. Eisenberg is always great when he’s playing confused and nervous, and it’s nice that he gets to subvert that by kicking arse too, but I’m maybe even more surprised by Kristen Stewart. I’d forgotten how effective Stewart can be when she’s not forced to play the chosen one or the most special person in the world – she does great regular person, and she’s doing it here. Together they really seem like they could make this film work.

I’m pleasantly surprised by all this. I don’t usually enjoy stoner humour, so I wasn’t expecting much, but the addition of the spy stuff really elevates it for me. There’s a few jokes that don’t land ( The Avengers did “language” much better, for one thing) but overall this looks really funny!

Cop Car

This is definitely not what I expected from a film called Cop Car . I thought it would be a gritty street-crime drama about a cop and their car – something like End of Watch , perhaps. So I was a bit disoriented when it opens with two kids finding an abandoned police car. And then it’s really fun and funny and exciting – the boys have great chemistry and even better comic timing, so seeing them bomb about in a stolen car looks like a blast. Now that I’d got my bearings, I settled down to enjoy what looked to be a pretty great romp. And that’s when it turned into a gritty crime movie.

I thought at first there was a body in the boot, but on a second watch it seems more likely that it’s drugs – but either way the boys are in way over their heads. From here there’s dirty cops and high-speed chases and at least one shootout. Kevin Bacon is cold and threatening, despite his moustache, but just mysterious enough that I still want to know what he’s up to. What I really like is how he’s an adult in a position of authority (not to mention one with guns) which makes the children seem so much more vulnerable and powerless – it’s almost like a horror movie!

My only concern is that the film might lose the fun and excitement of this trailer’s first half. I like the idea of a crime story with kids, but I hope it remembers to let them act like the kids they are. The best parts here are the boys just being themselves, and I hope that doesn’t get lost when the plot kicks in.